Croydon Schools Cricket Association

• Annual Report 2005
• Annual Report 2005 - Appendix 2
• Secondary League Tables - Appendix 1

2005 Season

Croydon Schools' U15s 204 South London Schools' U15s 205 for 2 (8th June)

South London Schools' eight wickets win against Croydon's U15s at The Brit Oval last week had officials thumbing through the record books to look up details of such a margin of victory in the annual Jack Hobbs Challenge Trophy match.

Croydon Schools' Cricket Association's Under 15s
v South London at The Oval on 8th June 2005

This comprehensive win by Croydon's South London neighbours - with players drawn from schools in Lambeth, Southwark and Wandsworth - was no more than the opposition deserved, bringing to an end a record-breaking sequence of seven consecutive wins by the Croydon boys.

Croydon, took full advantage of winning the toss, on one of the sunniest and warmest days this season, and started promisingly enough, hoisting a score of 32 without loss, off the first six overs before county player, Adam Benjamin (St Joseph's College) (16) spooned an easy caught and bowled chance to leave Croydon on 32 for 1, off the sixth over.

Jake Harris (Edenham), one of Croydon's most improved players, with experience of the NEC Colts League tour of South Africa during the winter, took up the cudgels for Croydon, but wickets fell at regular intervals, and Harris eventually departed for 28 invaluable runs.

With the score on 75 for 4 wickets off 18 overs, Croydon were in danger of being bowled out, with overs in hand. Christian Bond (Trinity) led from the front, sprinkling the fast outfield and short boundary on the gasometer side of the refurbished ground, with nine boundaries and a six.

Croydon Schools' Cricket Association's Under 15s
Christian Bond

His fine innings of 59, timing the ball to perfection, rescued Croydon, taking them on to 203 for 7, before the remaining wickets fell cheaply, leaving Croydon marooned and an unforgivable total of six overs unused.

Croydon's total of 204 was a respectable one, and if Croydon could have taken early wickets they would have had high hopes of another victory.

But South London dominated, when they batted after the tea interval, racing to 178 for the first wicket, in only 26 overs, before Dulwich College's Matt Hudsmith departed for a sound knock of 102, his maiden century, victim of a fine tumbling catch by Ben Bateman, off Vishal Patel (St Joseph's College).

Croydon gained a cheap wicket just five runs later but they faced an impossible task and Kit Hawkins (Alleyn's) saw his side through with an unbeaten 69, and a comfortable margin of ten overs in hand.

Skipper, Benjamin, turned to eight bowlers in an abortive attempt to flow the stem of runs, but Croydon's ground fielding let them down and heads dropped as South London turned the screw, sensing a rare win.

Croydon Schools' Hon Secretary, David Lomas, having stepped down from hi role of team manager of the Croydon team, after 25 years in charge, was fulsome in his praise of South London, acknowledging their superiority, and thanking all the personnel at The Oval for once again allowing the teams to take part in the much-awaited and much-valued fixture on such a splendid stage. He remarked that in the 35 years history of the match, it had only been rained off on two occasions.

The trophies and plaques were presented by South African, Jade Dernbach, a member of the Surrey County Cricket Club playing staff.

Croydon squad:  Sivayogarajah, Bateman, Jackson, Bond (all Trinity), Vishal Patel, Adam Benjamin (both St Joseph's College), Golbourn, Harris, Minesh Patel (all Edenham), Scola (Woodcote), Raval (Harris CTC)
Team Manager:  Roman Parker (St Joseph's College)

Further information from David Lomas on 020 8656 8857 or email: dalomas@tiscali.co.uk

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Thursday, 28 August, 2008

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